USS ''Milius'' (DDG-69) is an

Aegis The aegis ( ; grc, αἰγίς ''aigís''), as stated in the ''Iliad'', is a device carried by Athena and Zeus, variously interpreted as an animal skin or a shield and sometimes featuring the head of a Gorgon. There may be a connection with a d ...

guided missile destroyer A guided-missile destroyer (DDG) is a destroyer whose primary armament is guided missiles so they can provide anti-aircraft warfare screening for the fleet. The NATO standard designation for these vessels is DDG, while destroyers who have a prim ...

of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. It is the first United States Navy Ship named after a POW/MIA from the Vietnam War. She is named after Captain Paul L. Milius, a Naval Aviator presumed killed following the crash of his aircraft over Laos in February 1968. Captain Milius's daughter, Annette, became the sponsor and later christened the ship named in honor of her father.

Service history

In January 2005, ''Milius'' participated in

Operation Unified Assistance Operation Unified Assistance was the American military's humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. On 28 December 2004, elements of the Combined Support Force were deployed to U-Tapao International Airport in Thailand ...

. On 6 December 2006, the ship successfully launched a Block IV

Tomahawk A tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe used by the many Indigenous peoples and nations of North America. It traditionally resembles a hatchet with a straight shaft. In pre-colonial times the head was made of stone, bone, or antler, and Europ ...

cruise missile A cruise missile is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhe ...

for the first time in a test of the Block IV configuration. The launch took place in the

Naval Air Warfare Center Naval Air Warfare Centers are research organizations within Naval Air Systems Command. The centers are grouped within the following divisions: Aircraft division The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) conducts research, development, ...

Weapons Division Sea Test Range off of California. The missile flew 869 miles before impacting its target on the land range at China Lake, California. On 12 September 2007, the

Embassy of the United States, Manila The Embassy of the United States of America to the Philippines is the diplomatic mission of the United States in the Philippines. is situated in the Chancery Building of the Manila American Embassy along Roxas Boulevard (formerly Dewey Boulevard ...

stated that the arrival of the destroyers and USS ''Milius'' was a goodwill visit to strengthen

Philippines–United States relations The relationship between the United States and the Philippines has historically been strong and has been described as a "special relationship". The former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, however, was supportive of a foreign policy that is ...

On 23 November 2021, ''Milius'' conducted a transit of the

Taiwan Strait The Taiwan Strait is a -wide strait separating the island of Taiwan and continental Asia. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to the East China Sea to the north. The narrowest part is wide. The Taiwan Strait is itself a s ...

Deployments

* 26 May 1998-September 1998 Maiden deployment * 22 June 2000-December 2000 West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf * 2 November 2002 – 2 June 2003 West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf * 6 December 2004 – 6 June 2005 West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf * 10 April 2007 – 8 October 2007 Scheduled Deployment with BHR ESG * December 2008-July 2009 West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf * 18 May 2010 – 16 December 2010 West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf * 11 January 2012 – 11 September 2012 West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf * 20 October 2014 - 25 June 2015 West PAC- Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf * May 2018-TBD Forward deployed to 7th Fleet, USS Milius changes homeport from San Diego, CA to Yokosuka, Japan.

Coat of arms

The ship’s crest is designed in remembrance of the military service of the ship’s namesake, Captain Paul Lloyd Milius, and the courage and dedication that promoted his selfless act of heroism. Dark blue and gold are colors traditionally used by the Navy and denote the sea and excellence. The shield itself reflects the power of the Aegis shield. The double-edged battle-ax symbolizes the power of the modern guided missile destroyer. The battle-ax harnesses is a warning that peace should be maintained; provoked and unleashed, the battle-ax is a punishing offensive weapon capable of delivering crushing blows. The trident reflects the prowess of MILIUS, capable of projecting sea power on the land, in the air, and on and beneath the sea. The crossed swords are the modern Navy sword of today and the cutlass of the John Paul Jones era symbolizing the enduring tradition and heritage of the United States Navy. The border, for unity, is red highlighting readiness for action and sacrifice, if necessary. The seven bolts on the border represent the seven lives saved by Captain Milius’ heroic action. The lion suggests Captain Milius’ extraordinary heroism as the aircraft commander in Observation Squadron Sixty-Seven for which he received the Navy Cross, represented by the cross plate, and underscored his selfless courage and inspiring devotion to duty. Alii Prae Me, or “Others Before Myself,” was chosen to reflect the personal ethic held throughout Captain Milius’ military career and his selfless act under fire.

Awards

USS ''Milius'' has been awarded the Navy

Battle "E" The Battle Effectiveness Award (formerly the Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as the Battle "E"), is awarded annually to the small number of United States Navy ships, submarines, aviation, and other units that win their battle effectiveness c ...

four times * 01-Jan-2002 31-Dec-2002 * 01-Jan-2012 31-Dec-2012 * 01-Jan-2015 31-Dec-2015 * 01-Jan-2019 31-Dec-2019 * PACFLT 2003

Retention Excellence Award The Retention Excellence Award (previously known as the Golden Anchor Award) is an award given by the United States Department of the Navy for sustaining superior levels of military retention. The award was established by the United States Fleet ...

Winner * PACFLT 2002

Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award The Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award is presented annually by the U.S. Navy's Chief of Naval Operations to one ship in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and one in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Generally the recipient is the ship with the highest score in ...

* 2019 Bloodhound Award Winner * 2019 Spokane Trophy

Ship awards

References

External links

Official USS ''Milius'' Web site

{{DEFAULTSORT:Milius (DDG-69) Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Destroyers of the United States Ships built in Pascagoula, Mississippi 1995 ships